Hochschwab Mountains

Moderate avalanche danger due to shallow snowdrifts at high altitude

Moderate avalanche danger due to shallow snowdrifts at high altitude

The main avalanche danger currently stems from small, fresh, cavity-filled snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes. On shady slopes and at entries to extremely steep gullies and bowls, large additional loading can trigger slab avalanches, in isolated cases (and small slabs) by minimum additional loading. Caution is also required to the perils of being forced to take a fall on the icy surfaces.

At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is thoroughly wet and, depending on altitude, covered with a melt-freeze crust. At high altitudes the surface is ice-encrusted, and there are shallow, cavity-filled drifts on top of it. The fundament is compact and evidences no weak layers.

Saturday will be sunny and dry, by and large. In the northern barrier cloud regions, heavy residual cloud will persist in the morning, later on all the summits should be free with good visibility. Winds will slacken off somewhat, but still be brisk from north to northeast. At 2000 m: -2 degrees at midday. Sunday will also be sunny for the most part. But winds will again become stormy, then shift to northwesterly.

No significant change in avalanche danger is expected.